Who said “However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a…”?

Verified

Gloria Steinem. A published source records them saying or writing it.

Source"If Hitler Were Alive, Whose Side Would He Be On?" in M.S. magazine (October-November 1980); later in Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983)

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“However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group's greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.”
— Gloria Steinem
Verified"If Hitler Were Alive, Whose Side Would He Be On?" in M.S. magazine (October-November 1980); later in Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983) · evidenceAuthority

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: "If Hitler Were Alive, Whose Side Would He Be On?" in M.S. magazine (October-November 1980); later in Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (1983).

APA

Steinem, G. (n.d.). However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group's greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7531-however-sugarcoated-and-ambiguous-every-form-of/

MLA

Steinem, Gloria. “However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group's greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7531-however-sugarcoated-and-ambiguous-every-form-of/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Steinem, Gloria. “However sugarcoated and ambiguous, every form of authoritarianism must start with a belief in some group's greater right to power, whether that right is justified by sex, race, class, religion or all four. However far it may expand, the progression inevitably rests on unequal power and airtight roles within the family.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/7531-however-sugarcoated-and-ambiguous-every-form-of/.

Related quotes

“Authority has always attracted the lowest elements in the human race. All through history mankind has been bullied by scum. Those who lord it over their fellows and toss commands in every direction and would boss the grass in the meadow about which way to bend in the wind are the most depraved kind of prostitutes. They will submit to any indignity, perform any vile act, do anything to achieve power. The worst off-sloughings of the planet are the ingredients of sovereignty. Every government is a parliament of whores. The trouble is, in a democracy the whores are us.”
— P. J. O'Rourke
VerifiedParliament of Whores (1991) · evidenceDetails & citeAuthority

More quotes by Gloria Steinem

“Any woman who chooses to behave like a full human being should be warned that the armies of the status quo will treat her as something of a dirty joke. That's their natural and first weapon. She will need her sisterhood.”
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